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Reviews by coldmeat23:

This pours out a nice, mild, ruby color with an overtone of medium amber highlights. A thin head of light tan colored, creamy looking, foam appears on top. It maintains a solid surface covering, all through the glass. Lacing is thin, yet mildly sticky.

The funk and the oak are dominating the flavor. A light touch of earthiness, almost dirt-like. Lots of dark fruit notes, especially the skins, which come across as a vibrant, yet light, tartness. The oak notes come back out to provide a very dry finish.

It has a medium body and a high level of carbonation. It is very sharp and crisp, yet still mildly refreshing.

A bit much for 'session' drinking, yet nice enough to want to come back to.

More User Reviews:

TR3 batch... I don't know what that means... oh well. Ditmier cracked this gem at a tasting at his house a while back.. reviewed from pretty good notes... poured into my small La Trappe glass.

Bright only mildy hazy orangish/brown ... no head... no bubbles... yet still pretty.

Nose is unlike any biere de garde I've ever had.... much more like a sour.. sour cherries and some malty sweetness ... musty... a little acetic

flavor is is more vinegary with a bunch of oaky tannins.. sorta leathery.. sweet fruity maltiness pushes through with a vinous element that lets you know it has a port heritage... the funky and sour notes play a back fiddle up until about 2/3'rds of the way through this ride... then bam.. everything comes full circle... no hints of alcohol... beyond complex for my weak palate.... I would buy a half dozen of these if they every crossed the COOP shelves.... I want to let them develop for a lot longer ... wow... seriously a top shelf beer... and most people would never guess this was even a beer... just too much going on.

Eric... I truly appreciate the chance at this marvel.... I know we enjoyed some epic beers that night, but this is maybe the best in my mind.

Appearance: Brilliantly clear ruby-amber, a sort of sunset hue. No carbonation and no head.

Smell: Big vinous red wine notes from the barrel along with a good bit of esters from the yeast; cherries, figs, plums. A bit of mustiness and vanilla come out as it warms.

Taste & mouthfeel: A melange of sweet and tart fruits (strawberry, cherry pie filling, figs) hit the palate first, slowly transforming into more vinous, tannic and earthy/leathery flavors. There's a bit of balsamic-like acetic acid in the otherwise clean finish, lending a touch of tartness. The lack of carbonation brings this one step closer to wine; a true hybrid beer, and an amazing one at that.

Taste reminds me of Panil Barriquee, an Italian version of a Flanders Red. This one is much more akin to a wine than a beer. Sour and tart green apple skins accented with balsamic vinegar, is how I would sum it up. Leathery tannins add an acidic note. No real malt or hop character. Lots of musty oak aging character. Finishes very dry.

This is not a biere de garde. It's a Flanders Red or, possibly, a lambic. The aging in trousseau casks adds a pleasant musty oak character. I wish I had laid this one down for a couple of years so I might have gained more of an appreciation for its complexity.

TR3. Brewed May 2008 and bottled January 2009. This is beer number 1,600 for me and it didn't disappoint.

The beer pours an orange-amber color with a small white head. The aroma is tart cherries as well as some oak. The flavor is cherries, oak, grapes and vanilla. There is a medium level of tartness in the beer. Low carbonation and medium mouthfeel.

Appearance: Slightly hazy raspberry-colored body with not a lot of carbonation coming to the top. Mildly off-white head dissipates fairly quickly, leaving a few scant bubbles on the bulb of the glass.

Smell: A good mix of raspberries, sour cherries, and oak sourness. Highly effervescent and bright, which makes up for the possible lack of complexity.

Taste: I really like this, and I wish the bottle was bigger than 12 ounces. A good mix of sour fruits and oak, which I had hoped for and was expecting. The sourness levels mix quite nicely with the sour fruit, strawberries, raspberries, and cherries, and maybe some granny smith apple in there. I'm not exactly sure what the Trousseau grape is, but the barrels seem to work nicely here with the yeast and the brew.

Mouthfeel: This is probably being generous, as the look of it in the glass told me what was going to happen, but there's a fight from the carbonation that helps not seem as watery as I thought it was going to be. And for 11%, it does maintain a semblance of effervescence and doesn't seem cloying in the least, thankfully.

Drinkability: I admit, I probably shouldn't have paid -- yes -- $16 for this bottle, which is pretty ridiculous, but alas. Is it worth that price? To me, absolutely not. And that's what has to take this down to my current rating. A solid brew, but for the "VERY LIMITED EDITION" stamped on the back label, in addition to the label saying that it would keep for many years, I wonder, "Really? How many years?" With the carbonation already seeming like it's lost its edge, my advice would be to drink this sucker now, unless I was somehow supposed to wait at least 5 years down the road?

S: Tart cherries with strong woody undertones. Vinegar and alcohol are present along with a slight amount of sweetness.

T: Much like it smells, there is plenty of cherries, currants and dark fruit flavors. Funky oak barrel bug action is also right up front, helping to give an overall tannic, vinous taste. Very Port like. The sour and sweetness play nice, but the balance seems to be a little uneven overall. Some age will definitely benefit this beer.

M: Medium body. Feels a little syrupy. Very or little carbonation, but it fits with this kind of barrel aged beer.

D: 11%??? Seriously? I'd have thought maybe 6-7% tops. This is really drinkable, and a 375ml would be no problem for one person to consume. The lactic sourness and wood could be a bit of a burden on the palate if you drank too much though.

I've had several different kinds of the barrel aged Abbaye De Saint Bon-Cien's before, and this is just as good as the rest. However, I prefer the Bon-Chien's with some age on them and this version is no different. Also the price is pretty steep for a 375ml bottle. Around here they're like $16 a piece.

A lovely bright ruby amber ale with no head but good clarity. Nose is full of malt, oak and winey alcohol. Taste is very dry white wine with a caramel malt care. Firm sourness is not too aggressive and would go nicely with most foods. Some notes of whiskey and lots of oak. Finish is dry and short with fusel alcohol with grains and whiskey. Quite nice really. As it warms notes of light cherry and mild vanilla bloom. Feel has light carbonation and a crisp light texture with mild carbonation. A superb ale that will please sour lovers and wine heads together. This one is begging for some big tasting cheese or linguini with white clams.

TR5 bottle, brewed May 2008. Filled right up to the cap, nice to see that, since it cost so much. I sampled a good portion of the TR3 bottle I brought along to DLD, and figured it was worth a repeat buy to try the other barrel (TR5) and properly review.

Poured into a Rodenbach Grand Cru tulip at a height of 6", producing 2 fingers of ecru foam. Miraculously it lasted quite awhile, a big difference from the stillness of the TR3 batch. It was a ruddy brown with a ruby jewel tone when held to the light. After 15-20 minutes there is still a skim across the surface, with some minimal lacing on the opposite side of the glass.

Initial acetic vinegar aroma when the cap was pulled off, but that has segued into mellower territory, some vanilla and soft cherry, lactic cheese, and traces of balsamic vinegar. Flavor is similar, but bursts with cherry tartness, and savory oak barrel funk, alternately savory and tart, getting the salivary glands working overtime. Long dry finish that has woody oak and cola spice elements. Sort of clean and tangy, not abrasively sour. After finishing an 'o6 St. Bon Chien yesterday, I can say that this is much mellower and less alcoholic in overall feel. Although it lacks carbonation, it's full bodied and so savory and complex, like a good red wine.

Bottle: Poured medium murky amber color ale with a small bubbly head with no retention and no lacing. Aroma of oak and sour notes with some light white wine notes. Taste is also a complex mix of sour notes with some oak and vinous notes and well balanced acidity. Body is quite full with low carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Very complex and another winner from a fine brewer.

A very murky honeymooned body yields very little carbonation even with a strong pour. The skim of head that does develop is off-white in tone. Nose is of lemon peel, raspberry, wet stone and some dark fruit malts. With first sip the red wine tones are beautifully dominate on the palate. However, make no mistake this is great and unique beer. Fruit laced tannins really rock the taste buds with a dry berry finish. Only draw back may be that this beer could just a little more time in the cellar to develop its tartness which is already very nice. Mouthfeel is delightful and calls for the next sip. This beer is frighteningly drinkable for 11% alcohol. I wish the bottle was bigger, but if it were it would have beer a $35 beer. Bon-Chien in all its varieties really just hits the spot for me.

Pours clear and copper in color with modest amounts of head. Oaky aroma with a vinous quality and burnt sugar. Oak and vinous flavors along an alcoholic and tart finish. Appropriately moderated carbonation keeps the mouthfeel nicely full and smooth. I prefer the more prominent wood flavors here over the Vin Jaune barrel.

t - nice sour cherry punch up front with some vinegar, mix of sweet, tart and sour, rounds out on the mid-palate with the oak barrels being prominent, dark fruits mixed with cream and vanilla layers on top of the oak, tartness trails into the finish with lingering oak and sour cherry, a little bit of alcohol heat on the finish, but nothing that would suggest 11+% abv.

m - medium-bodied with very low carbonation, not overly dry on the palette

d - a sipper for sure, but this one is fairly easy on the palette relative to some other sour ales, the oak aging really seems to soften the sourness and tartness

Very good beer overall, though the $17 price tag will probably keep me from getting another bottle anytime soon. Great one to split with another sour lover.

Poured into a snifter. TR 5, brewed in May 2008, bottled in January 2009.

3.5 A: Murky amber plum color. No head formed. I never know what score to give appearance when the beer is intentionally flat.

4.5 S: This smells amazing. It's at least as good as any other variant I've had. Strong, rich and vinous red grape. Big hit of mixed berries followed by plum, apple, and plenty of cherry. Tangy lactic fruitiness behind that. Caramel, light toffee, and a big hit of oak with vanilla underneath. This is extremely smooth with all the aromas integrating very well.

4.0 T: The taste is also super complex and powerful, but it has a couple issues. Like some of the other variants, this has a very noticeable tannic astringency. It's not so bad that it dominates the taste, but it does distract from the better flavors. Big tangy lactic acid twang. Again, very vinous with red grape, berries, cherries, plum, apple, and lime. Caramel, toffe, tobacco, and raisin. Again big oak and mild vanilla. The booze is well hidden.

3.5 M: Medium to heavier medium body. This one does have a bit of carbonation in it, but it's just barely noticeable. Except for the tannins, this is fairly smooth and somewhat crisp.

4.0 D: Another quality variant. While this one has some issues, it's still mighty tasty and definitely worth a try.

Pours a nice caramel amber with a pretty decent sized off-white/tan head and a bit of lacing on the way down. Nose brings forward pleasant scents of oak, cherry, vinegar, caramel, and a touch of brown sugar. Taste brings both acetic and lactic acid, although in fairly small doses. The underlying cherry mixes well with the caramel bready sweetness, which is quite light, but quite nice. All the components of the beer fit in well with the slight sourness, creating a nice mouthfeel. At the same time, the acetic character gets to be a bit much toward the end.

pours deep orange, not quite brown, and crystal clear except for where the sediment at the bottom of the bottle obscures clarity. pretty much no head except for a very thin ring of fine white bubbles that clings to the edge of the glass and manages only a few spots of lace.

aroma is neat. light alcohol. lemon. malt vinegar. leather and a bit of horse blanket. a little more barnyard than i've had in the other abbaye de saint bon chiens. touch of butterscotch. white bread. cracker. grain. bit of biscuit. red and white grape lending shades of wine to the background. salty and almost spicy character.

taste is wacky. i get very little sourness out of it, but maybe it's just really well balanced. lots of different fruity character. white and red grape. bit of lemon and orange peel. butterscotch and a bit of toffee. woody. very little of the barnyard character i got in the aroma, just faint hints of it. light alcohol and a touch of sourness in the finish. white bread. cracker. bit of grain. light vanilla.

mouthfeel is great. medium body with a nice dry finish. low carbonation level. i'd like just a little more carbonation, but i'd rather see it low than high.

drinkability is great. very well balanced, hiding its alcohol well. balanced sourness too. nice depth and complexity from the barrel, without just slamming you in the head with it.

Got the last one of these from the batch we got into work. Opened it at the behest of d0b and my desire to toast Arturo Gatti's passing. Long live the champ! From a 375ml that was filled to about a ¼ inch from the cap. Dated "Brewed in May 2008." Served this too cold had to let it warm to just about room temperature before it started to sing.

I'm a tad worried about the condition of the bottle. I'm sure this is meant to be a low carbonated beer but this has none. Like it didn't even hiss as I took of the cap. My review may be a tad suspect, but as a famous wine writer once wrote "There are no great wines, just great bottles" or something like that. This beer pours with a few white rimmed bubbles and then quickly nothing, a swirl of the glass, nothing. A pleasing hue of tan, chestnut maybe, with a sort of ruby tint.

The nose is meadow-y, all grass and fresh blooming flowers. Very pasture like funk with the barn animals all home for good measure. As this warms it takes on many more similarities to Trousseau, with its winy red currant and cranberry fruits and more of the warm trodden soil. It also has a highlight of redwood in there somewhere and pretty dried rose note. Very expressive stuff.

I can't say I liked this at first, but it is one that grows on you. The next thing you know you are looking around for another 375ml to down. Plus this is contemplative stuff. You have to pay attention to what is going on, this just doesn't just come out and rip off all its clothes and say look at me. You have to do some coaxing, whisper some sweet nothings.
Tobacco, whole clove, dried raspberry and a whole lot of funky lactic acid are easily apparent here. The beer is wildly complex and full of action, everything bouncing around quickly but the flavors staying with you long after it is gone. This has plenty of the sour, yet bitter qualities similar to fresh cranberries. Add the winy, earthy Trousseau qualities and it becomes something alive. I love the sour, fruity, tart mid-palate here and the bitter, earthy finish.

The carbonation, or complete lack there of hurts this for me a bit. But I really like the high off-setting puckering acid as opposed to the muscular, sinewy frame. This makes sense to me being that I love wines from the Arbois and their sneaky power and teetering acid. But that may not make sense to anyone else.

At first I was on the fence with this but you need to drink it to become sold on it. The more you drink the more it all comes together and makes sense. I could easily put back 2-3 of these just trying to dissect them. The 11% ABV is hidden well and I always feel that sours, at least for me, are sort of a restorative both to the palate and the brain.